Filter.



Patented July l7, I900. 0. H. JEWELL.

Fl L T E R.

(Application, filed Jan. 29, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

NR @H RW "WI 255E5- No. 653,737. v Patented July I7, I900. V

0. H. JEWELL.

FILTER.

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1900.)

(Nu Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT Trice.

OMAR n. JEWELL, or orIIoAeo, ILLINOIS.

FILTER.

srEcI'FIoA'rIoN forming part of Letters iatent No. 653,737, dated July17, 1900. Application filed January 29,- 1.900. Serial No. 3,150. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OMAR H. JEWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain .new and useful Improvements in Filters, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to filters employing a bed of ranular material forremoving impurities from the water treated and has special reference tofilters of the gravity type. Heretofore such filters have been limitedin size, owing principally to the difiiculty of cleansing filter-beds oflarge area and also to the difficulty of securing uniform distributionof the impure water over the surface of the filter-bed, so that thedifferent portions of the filter-bed should be uniformly utilized. Theimprovements which form the subject-matter of this application overcomethe above-mentioned obstacles and make it possible to build filters ofthe kind mentioned several times greater in area and capacity than anyheretofore made.

The invention resides in a novel construction of filter in general, inthe manner of distributing the inflowing water, in the arrangements forthe removal of the wash-water, and in the apparatus for cleaning thefilter-bed itself.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of afilter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail, being aperspective View illustrating a part of the apparatus for admittingunfiltered water to the filter. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the filter,some parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustratingthe inlets for impure water. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustratingthe mounting of the agitator-frame. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectionalview showing the controlling mechanism; and Fig. 7 is a horizontalsectional view showing the impure-water inlet, some parts being brokenaway.

5 indicates a filter-tank which is adapted to contain the usual granularfilter-bed, the average upper level of which is usually substantially asindicated in Fig. 1. The filterbed rests on a false bottom 6 of the tank5, which is provided with a large number of strainers 7, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3. Said strainers 7 communicate with a filtered-wa terchamber 8, formed by the false bottom 6 and the bottom 9 of the tank 5.

10 indicates a series of supporting-posts which hold the bottom 9 andthe false bottom 6 properly spaced apart.

11 indicates a pure-water pipe which com= municates with thefiltered-water chamber 8, as shown in Fig. 1. Said pipe is controlled bya valve 12.

13 indicates a manhole-cover which covers a manhole in the bottomportion of the filter-tank 5, affording access to the chamber 8, asshown in Fig. 1.

14 indicates a cylinder or jacket arranged around the filter-tank 5, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3. The jacket 14 is of greater diameter than thefilterchamber, forming achamber 15 between said jacket and thefilter-chamber. The lower edge of the jacket lat is arranged somedistance above the false bottom 6, and its upper edge projects somedistance above the upper edge of the filter-tank 5, as shown in Fig. 1.By placing the jacket 14 above the false bottom 6 it does not interferewith access to the filtered-water chamber 8, which may therefore be morereadily cleaned, and, furthermore, the construction is simplified, inthat it is not necessary in making connections with the pure-waterchamber 8 to ex tend the pipe through said jacket. A further importantadvantage of this construction is that unfiltered water. leaking fromthe chamber 15 cannot enter the filtered-water chamber 8, so that thereis no danger of contamination of the filtered water.

16 indicates a horizontal annular plate which secures the lower edge ofthe jacket let to the filter-tank 5.

17 indicates a horizontal annular plate arranged in the chamber 15 somedistance above the plate 16 and secured to the jacket and to thefilter-tank, forming an annular chamber or conduit 18, as shown inFig. 1. V

19 indicates an impure-water pipe which communicates with the source ofsupply and with the conduit 18, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The pipe 19is provided with a shut-01f valve 20 and with a butterfly-valve 21,which is adapted to be automatically adjusted to control the flow ofwater into the filter-tank. For this purpose the butterfly-valve isprovided with an arm 22, which is connected to its pivot 22 and isarranged outside the pipe 19, as shown in Fig. 6, said arm beingconnected by a rod 23 to a pivoted lever 24, which is pivoted in avertically-arranged reservoir 25, as shown in Fig. 1. The lever 24 is inturn connected by a vertical rod 26 to a float 27 in the reservoir 25.The upper end of the rod 26 runs through a guide 28, as shown. Thereservoir 25 is arranged parallel with the filtertank 5, its upper endrising to about the level of the upper edge of the jacket. An opening 29is provided between the chamber and the reservoir t0 admit the waterfrom said chamber to said reservoir. By this construction as the waterrises in the filter-tank and in the chamber 15 it also rises in thereservoir 25 and raises the float 27, which automatically adjusts thebutterfly-valve 21. The parts are adjusted so that when the water risesin the filter-tank above the proper level the butterfly-valve isadjusted to restrict or stop the flow into the tanks, whereas when thewater in the filter-tank falls again the float 27 descends and opens thevalve 21.

7 30 indicates an annular track which is secured slightly above theupper edge of the filter-tank 5 by brackets 31, which are secured to thejacket 14, and brackets 32, se cured to the upper edge of thefilter-tank, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The brackets 31 32 are soarranged as not to materially impede the flow of water from the chamber15 around the track 30 into the filter-tank.

33 indicates a series of passages or openings provided in the plate 17for admitting water from the chamber 18 to the chamber 15. Said openingsare formed by making U-shaped cuts at suitable intervals in the plate17, forming tongues 34, which are bent upward to a greater or lessextent. Said openings 33 are placed at different points around the plate17 and are proportioned in size or distance apart according to the areaof the conduit 18 and the water-pressure in the same-that is to say,said openings are farther apart or are less in area near the inlet-pipe19 than at the opposite end of said conduit 18,the amount of variationdepending on the frictionof the water in said conduit. This arrangementof the openings is shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. For example, if one-halfthe original head is lost at the extreme end of the conduit 18 thepassages farthest from the inlet would be onefourth as far apart asthose near the inlet, or they would be of four times the area of thosewhich received the water first. The area of said passages 33 may bevaried readily by adjusting the position of the tongues 34, asillustrated in Fig. 4. The tongues 34 are all inclined in the samegeneral direction, so that they serve to discharge the inflowing waterinto the chamber 15 tangentially, establishing circulatory currents inthe filter, thereby promoting the agglomeration of the impurities andtheir retention in the filter-bed.

35 indicates a beam which carries a series of agitating-arms 36,arranged vertically, as shown in Fig. 1. Said beam 35 is provided withrollers 37 at its ends, which are adapted to run on the track 30, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3. The beam 35 is adapted to rotate about avertical axis, the rollers 37 moving on the track 30, as above stated,such rotary movement carrying the agitators 36 around through thefilter-bed and agitating it thoroughly. The agitators 36 are designed toagitate the outer portion of the bed and not the central portionthereof, a separate agitator being provided for the latter portion ofthe bed. The beam 35 is rotated by means of a series of gears,consisting of a gear-wheel 38, secured on the beam 35, said wheel beingin mesh with a pinion 39, mounted on the vertical shaft 40, carried bystationary beams 41, mounted on the jacket 14, and extending across thefilter-tank, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The shaft 40 carries at itsupper end a gear-wheel 42, which meshes with a pinion 43, the lattermeshing with a second pinion 44, mounted on a vertical shaft 45, whichis supported in a suitable bearing in a bracket 46, as shown in Fig. 1.The shaft carries a beveled gear 47, which meshes with a beveled pinion48, mounted on a driving-shaft 49, which is suitably supported above thefilter-tank by the bracket 46 and a bracket 50. The shaft 49 maybedriven by a motor 51 or other suitable source of power an d'is providedwith clutch mechanism 52, operated by a le ver 53, by which it may bestopped and started at pleasure. As shown in Fig. 1, the pinion 43 ismounted on a feather on a verticallyarrauged screw-threaded shaft 54,the upper end of which is supported in a suitablebearing 55, carried byan arm 56 of the bracket 46. The shaft 54 does not bear directly in thebearing 55, but passes through a sleeve 57, arranged in said bearing, asshown in Fig. 1, which sleeve is provided with suitable collars to holdit in place. Above the sleeve 55 is a screw-threaded hand-wheel 58,fitted on the screw-threaded upper portion of the shaft 54. By thisconstruction by adjusting the handwheel 58 the shaft 54 may be raisedand lowered at pleasure; but when said hand-Wheel is not adjusted saidshaft will be free to rotate with the pinion 43 without verticalmovement.

59 indicates an agitator carried at the lower end of the shaft 54 withinthe filter-tank 5. The agitator 59 is composed of a series of backwardlyand outwardly curved blades arranged in an inclined position, as shownin Figs. 1 and 3, the inclination of said blades being such as to causethe material engaged by said agitator to rise when said agitatorisrotated in the proper direction. By curving said blades backward andoutward they act to throw the sand and water outward, causin gcirculatory currents, as indicated by the arrows, facilitating thepurification of the bed. In the construction shown this is effected whenthe agitator is rotated, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3.

indicates an outlet-pipe for wash-water, which pipe communicates withthe chamber 15 and is provided with a suitable valve 61, as shown inFig. 1.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: \Vater beingadmitted through pipe 19 to conduit 18 flows in said conduit around thefilter-tank 5 and rises at various points around said filter-tankthrough openings 33 into the chamber 15, the rise of the water in thechamber 15 being substantially uniform, owing to the arrangement of theopenings 83 in the manner described. At the same time the water is givena circulatory movement by reason of the arrangement of the tongues ordeflectors 34:. The Water rising in the chamber 15 overflows the upperedge of the tank 5 and is distributed over the filter-bed substantiallyuniformly, thence passing down through the filter-bed to the strainers 7and through them to the filteredwater chamber 8, and passes off throughoutlet-pipe 11. During the operation of the filter asubstantially-uniform level is maintained in the filter-tank by theautomatic regulation of the area of the inlet-passage by means of thefloat 27.

In order not to interfere with the circulatory movement of the waterflowing from the chamber 15 to the filter-tank, the brackets 31 32 areangular-1y arranged to correspond with the direction of movement of thewater.

\Vhen the filter-bed has become impure and washing is necessary, thevalve 20 of the inlet-pipe 19 is closed and wash-water is admitted tothe filtered-water chamber 8 through a pipe 62, as shown in Fig. 3. Thewashwater rises through the strainers 7 to the filter-bed, through whichit also rises, and finally overflows the filtertank 5, passing into thechamber 15 and out through pipe 60. The valve 61 is opened for thatpurpose. While the washing is in progress, the filter-bed is agitatednot only by the upwardlymoving water, but also by the agitator-arms 36and the agitator 59, which are rotated for that purpose. It will benoted that the outer portions of the filter-bed are agitated by the arms36, whereas that portion nearer the center is agitated by the agitator59, which may be moved up and down through the filter-bed to effectuallyagitate all portions thereof. The object of this arrangement is toprovide for offectually agitating the central portion of the filter-bed.This is something which has not been accomplished satisfactorily byprior constructions, wherein a single agitator was provided for theentire filter-bed, as in the latter construction. In order to secure asufficient movement at the center of the filter-bed to satisfactorilyagitate it, it has been necessary to rotate the agitating device at sucha high rate of speed that the outer agitators have acted so violentlyupon the outer portions of the filter-bed as to cause a great portion ofthe sand to be carried off with the wash-water and to seriouslydisarrange the level of the sand in the tank. By my construction,however, the different portions of the filter-bed may be agitated tosubstantially the same extent, so that there is no danger of carryingthe sand out of the tank or of disturbing its level, except while theoperation of washing is being conducted.

63 indicates a pipe for draining the cham' bar 8.

While I have described my improved construction in detail, I do not wishto be limited to the specific devices shown, except in so far as theyare specifically claimed, as various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from my invention.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, a filtered-waterchamber below said tank and communicating therewith, an external chamberaround the upper part of said tank and communicating therewith, thelowermost portion of said external chamber being above saidfiltered-water chamber, and means for supplying unfiltered water to saidexternal chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, a bottom therefor, afalse bottom above said bottom and forming therewith a filteredwaterchamber,strainers in said false bottom, a jacket around the upperportion of said filter tank forming therewith an external chamber, thelowermost portion of said jacket being above said false bottom, andmeans for supplying unfiltered water to the filtertank, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, and a conduit extendingaround said tank and having a plurality of openings at separate pointsfor supplying water to said tank, substantially as described.

4. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, a conduit extendingaround said tank and having a plurality of openings at separate pointsfor supplying water to said tank, and a water-supply pipe connected withsaid conduit, the openingsin said conduit farthest from the water-inletbeing arranged to provide a greater area for the passage of water fromsaid conduit to said tank than those nearer said inlet, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, and a conduit extendingaround said tank and having a plurality of openings at separate pointsfor supplying water to said tank, said openings being arranged toprovide a gradually-increasing area for the passage of water to saidtank, substantially as described.

6. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, a granular filter-bedtherein, a system of strainers covering the bottom of said filtertank,an external chamber around said tank and communicating therewith abovethe filter-bed and around the outer margin thereof, and means forsupplying water to said external chamber at a plurality of points aroundthe filter-tank, substantially as described.

7. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, a granular filter-bedtherein, a system of strainers covering the bottom of said filtertank,an external chamber around said tank and communicating therewith abovethe filter-bed and around the outer margin thereof, and means forsupplying water to said external chamber in substantially-equal volumeat a plurality of points around said filtertank, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, an external chamberaround said tank and communicating therewith above the filter-bed, meansfor supplying water to said external chamber, and means for imparting acirculatory movement to the water in said chamber, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, a conduit extendingaround said tank and having a plurality of openings at separate pointsfor supplying water to said tank, and means for discharging water fromsaid conduit tangentially, substantially as described.

10. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, an external chamberaround said tank and communicating therewith above the filter-bed, aconduit below said external chamber and communicating therewith, andmeans for supplying water to said external chamber through said conduit,substantially as described.

11. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank adapted to containagranular filter-bed, means for admitting water to said tank above thefilter-bed, and agitating devices for agitating the outer portion of thefilter material, said outer agitating devices being rotatable about thecenter of the tank and other agitating means for agitating the centralportion of the filter-bed, substantiallyas described.

12. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank adapted to contain agranular filter-bed, means for admitting water to the filter-tank abovethe filter-bed, means for conducting filtered water from saidfilter-tank below the filter-bed, means for reversing the flow of waterthrough said filter-bed, independently-op erable agitating devicesadapted to agitate the outer and inner portions of the filter-bedrespectively, said outer agitating devices being rotatable about thecenter of the tank, and means for operating said agitating devicesindependently of each other, substantially as described.

13. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank adapted to contain agranular filter-bed, means for admitting water to the filter-tank abovethe filter-bed, means for conducting filtered water from saidfilter-tank below the filter-bed, means for reversing the flow of wa'ter through said filter-bed, independently-operable agitating devicesadapted to agitate the outer and inner portions of the filter-bedrespectively, and means for operating said agitating devicesindependently of each other, the inner agitating device being verticallyadjustable, substantially as described.

14. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, an ann ular track,agitating devices supported upon said track and adapted to rotatethereon, an independently-mounted agitating device, and means forrotating said agitating devices, substantially as described.

15. In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, an annular track,agitating devices supported on said track and adapted to rotate thereon,means for rotating said agitating devices, and an independently-operableagitating device at the center of said tank, substantially as described.

16 In a filter, the combination of a filtertank, an annular track,agitating devices supported on said track and adapted to rotate thereon,means for rotating said agitating devices, and an independently-operableagitating device at the center of said tank, said central agitatingdevice being vertically ad Witnesses:

WM. M. JEWELL, JOHN L. JACKSON.

